India’s first ‘teal carbon’ study bets on wetlands to address the challenges of climate adaptation and resilience

Sub: Env

Sec: Climate Change

Context:

India’s first study on teal carbon, conducted at Keoladeo National Park (KNP) in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district, highlights the importance of conserving wetlands as part of climate adaptation and resilience efforts.
Study Objective: Aimed to explore teal carbon’s potential in climate change mitigation if pollution in wetlands can be minimized.

Teal Carbon:

Teal Carbon: Refers to carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, such as vegetation, microbial biomass, and organic matter.
- Differentiates from black and brown carbon, which are byproducts of incomplete combustion from sources like wildfires and fossil fuel use.
- Wetlands are crucial in regulating greenhouse gases but are sensitive to degradation from pollution, land use changes, water extraction, and landscape modifications.
Teal Carbon Storage Estimate: Estimated at 500.21 petagrams of carbon (PgC) across global ecosystems.
- Major contributors include peatlands, freshwater swamps, and natural marshes.

Importance of Wetland Conservation:

Degraded wetlands can release methane and carbon dioxide, exacerbating global warming.
Effective conservation strategies include:
- Ensuring water availability
- Selecting appropriate vegetation to maintain the teal carbon pools
Benefits of teal carbon ecosystems include:
- Enhanced groundwater levels
- Flood mitigation
- Reduction of urban heat islands, supporting sustainable urban adaptation.

Mitigation Strategies:

Biochar Application: To reduce methane emissions, the study proposes using a specialized biochar (a lightweight carbon-rich material).
- Requires advanced instruments like the LI-COR device for accurate, real-time greenhouse gas measurements.

Source: TH